Stump-burner.



W. L. READ.

STUMP BURNER.

APPLIoATIoN FILED 13120.12, 1910.

1,031,372, Patented July 2, 1912.

WILLARD L. READ, OF SEATTLE, WASHINGTON.

STUMP-BURNER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented July 2, 1912.

Application filed December 12, 1910. Serial No. 596,776.

To all whom t may concern Be itknown that I, VILIJARD L. READ, citi- Zen of the United States, residing at Seattle, in the county of VKing and State of Vashington, have invented certain new and useful Improvements` in Stump-Burners, of -which the following is a specification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawing.

The principal object of this invent-ion is to provide simple, inexpensive stump burning apparatus which may be easily transported and operated by one man and by the use of which stumps, including their larger roots, may be rapidly burned, whether wet or not, without disturbing more than a slight amount of the surrounding earth. To attain this object, fuel is burned in a small excavation beneath the stump, clay or earth being banked about in such manner that the combustion goes on in a chamber to which air is admitted through a suitable conduit and from which the products of combustion are permitted to escape through a passage provided therefor, the stump itself often serving as the sole fuel after the combustion is well under way. The smoke passage is extended to any desired height to insure proper draft and the draft is prefe 'ably controlled by a valve, and the incoming air is preferably heated by the outgoing products of combustion. I also provide for supplying fluid fuel in controlled amount either initially or throughout the entire operation, as may seem necessary or desirable.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a side elevation, with parts in section, showing the complete device in operation. Fig..2 is a view showing a slightly modified arrangement. Fig. 3 Ashows similarly a slightly different modification. Fig. 4; is an elevation, looking from the right in Fig. l. Fig. 5 is an end view of certain main pipes, the fuel pipe being carried to the lower part of the air pipe. Fig. 6 is a section on the line 6 6, Fig. 1.

In Figs. 1 and 2, A represents a stump to be destroyed, B a large air pipe arranged in substantially horizontal position with one end near the lower portion ofthe stump, and C a smoke pipe shown for illustration as lying in the axis of the air pipe and having its outer end portion bent upward at any desired angle and extended to any desired height to secure draft, which is controlled by a damper D. The smoke pipe when thus lo` cated is held in place in the air pipe by any suitable means, for example by corrugated rings Z, and from its .inner end project air tubes L of such character as to sustain high heat without material injury, and of such length as toproperly preheat the air. In use, the air pipe is supported on or from the ground with the small projecting air pipes in close proximity to the lower part of the stump, the earth being excavated forming a cavity beneath the stump when desired. Fuel is then placed at the end of the pipe and well ignited, and then this end portion of the apparatus is banked with clay or earth J in such manner as to form a closed chamber for the combustion, the clay being supported when necessary by incombustible supports, not shown. Owing to the height of the outer end portion of the smoke pipe, a draft is created and air is drawn in through the air pipe and heated on its way to the point of combustion. The damper regulates the draft, and when desired the combustion may be made like that in ordinary charcoal burning, the stump being converted into charcoal; and when the stump is of pine, the process may be like wood distillation and the products may be utilized in substantially the same way. As the combustion proceeds, the attendant adds clay or earth from time to time as it may be needed to maintain the closure of the combustion chamber. In some cases I add to the air pipe a bent terminal section K, Fig. 2, for delivering the air beneath the stump, and in such case usually extend correspondingly some at least of the small air tubes.

Where the stump is green or very wet, proper combustion is not readily maintained without fuel other than that initially ignited, and I therefore provide for the use of additional fuel which may most conveniently loe fluid and is preferably hydrocarloon in liquid form. In Figs. 1 and 2, E represents a liquid fuel tank and F a valved pipe leading therefrom into the air pipe and thence to a point preferably a little beyond its end where it may be provided with a suitable burner G. This tank is shown as clamped to the air pipe and the upturned portion of the smoke lpipe by means of a bracket II, and said portion, when the device is in use is held in an approximately vertical plane by pivoted legs or braces I 0r other suitable devices engaging the earth. The supply of fuel is regulated or cut off when not needed by the valve in the fuel pipe, thus I am enabled to dry the stump if wet or green and progressively burn out its body and larger roots with great economy of fuel, the latter being cut olf when the stump itself will burn without it, and in any case supplied in the smallest quantity which will be effectual. It may also be noted that the fluid fuel when used is also supplied in a heated condition, thereby raising the temperature in the zone of combustion, which is economically desirable.

Various changes in construction may be made without passing the limits of my invention. For example, the air pipe may be made smaller than the smoke pipe and may be located within it, as in Fig. 8 where B designates the air pipe, and if desired the fuel pipe may be curved about the smoke pipe, to any desired extent, as suggested at F2, Fig. 5, and may then be carried along the lower side of the smoke pipe. Nor is it indispensable that the one pipe should lie within another, although I prefer that it should, for various reasons.

It is plain that the presence of the fluid fuel devices does not interfere with the use of the apparatus without such fuel, so that under all conditions the stump may be burned out with no more expense than the particular conditions make necessary.

What I claim is:

l. The co-mbination'with an open smoke pipe adapted to have one end placed in proximity to the surface of the lower portion of a stump, of a fluid fuel conduit and an air supplying conduit both leading to the vicinity of said end and in position to receive heat from said pipe, whereby preheated fuel and air may be supplied at the point of combustion.'

2. In a stump burner, the combination of a smoke pipe, a fuel pipe and an air pipe all connected together and terminating at approXimately the same point.

8. In apparatus of the class described, the combination with an open air conveying pipe adapted to have one end portion placed near the surface of the lower portion of a stump and laterally inclosed with earth, of a pipe for delivering fuel at the inclosed end, and a smoke pipe leading from said end and having its outer end portion bent upwardly for creating a draft.

4. In apparatus of the class described, the

combination with a valved conduit for-de livering fuel at the base of a stump, of a pipe for supplying air at the end of said conduit, a valved smoke pipe leading from the vicinity of said end and having its outer end portion bent upwardly, and earth engaging means for holding said portion in upright position.

5. In apparatus of the class described, the combination with an air pipe and an approximately concentric pipe for discharging the products of combustion, of a fuel supply pip-e leading along said discharge pipe to a point beyond the inner ends of the concentric pipes, and small air discharging pipes of refractory material projecting from the inner end of said air pipe.

In testimony whereof I aiiiX my signature in presence of two witnesses.

VVILLARD L. READ.

TWitnesses:

C. S. Gosr'mRr, J. W. SHoRn'rT.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for ve cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. C. Y 

